Page 6 of Winters' Snow
‘I know.My mum hates it.It seems I was happiest before I was Sonny, back when I was Edgar Cloude and living off of my mum’s homemade cottage pie.Mate, you’ve gotta come over and try it.’Edgar smiled broadly.
‘I’d love to, Sonny… sorry, Edgar.’
‘Hey!Is Evie up there?!Bring her too!’Edgar jumped up and down, trying to see past Vincent.
‘No, she isn’t, but… I’m hoping maybe she will be soon.’He looked back at the doors.They were still firmly shut.
‘Well, I have to get back to Mum but I’m so glad you’re here.Well, I’m not glad you’re dead.Just… here.’Edgar laughed, waved and ran through the snow leaving hefty boot prints behind him and Vincent felt his heart swell, knowing his friend was happy and safe.
Vincent heard an odd scratching noise behind him.He spun around, hoping the doors had opened, but instead he was greeted with a bird, white and silky, perched on the door handle.He cooed softly and bowed his head.
‘Little One?’Vincent’s eyes welled up and he knelt by the bird’s side and waggled a finger under his chin.‘It’s so good to see you.’
Little One looked over his shoulder through the window and flapped his wings, flying over to the railings, as though he was getting out of the way.It was then that Vincent noticed someone had entered the flat.His heart started thudding hard.He could feel his pulse in the tip of every finger, hear it booming in his ears.Looking through the windows, he could see the silhouette of a woman wearing a coat.She seemed to be looking at him too.
Vincent lifted his trembling hand and took hold of the handle.He turned it and this time it moved, and he felt the latch click open.Vincent couldn’t bring himself to open the door all at once.Crazy thoughts started to run through his head.What if this is the wrong flat?he thought.What if that’s notEvie?What if this is all a dream brought on by eating weird fruit from a weird tree?
Whatever was happening, he need to know for sure.He took a breath and pushed open the door… and there she was.Green coat, blonde hair, and that twinkle.That twinkle.He stepped into the room and before he’d even taken a breath, she was running to him.Opening his arms, she ran into them at full tilt and he swept her up gladly.Vincent couldn’t believe this was real, thatshewas real.He held her tight against him and the smell of treacle enveloped him.He took her face in his calloused hands and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.
Evie Snow found his green eyes and that was all it took to convince him this wasn’t a dream.She was here and she was real.
Evie ran her fingers through his hair, not able to get enough of him after half a century without him.Vincent moved his lips to hers, and just before he kissed her, Evie whispered, ‘At long last.’
Epilogue
The Greatest Adventure
Reunited, they found the sofa and unmoving, just silent, they held each other for what seemed like forever and yet it still didn’t feel like long enough.This was something they had both spent half a century longing for and now that they had it, they couldn’t believe it was real.Evie’s hands had locked themselves in Vincent’s hair, her legs over his lap and even though her palms were sweating, she couldn’t let him go.Vincent cradled her and squeezed her every once in a while, to reassure her he was still there and always would be.They really did have each other once more.After a while, Vincent felt Evie shudder and realised she was crying.
‘Hey.What’s wrong?’He pulled away so he could look into her face.
‘Nothing’s wrong.’She shook her head, smiling.‘I’m happy.So,unbelievablyhappy but I’m also… confused.This feels like a dream but it also feels real but we’re both dead so… howcanit be real?’Evie wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her green coat.
Vincent shrugged.‘I don’t know.Maybe it’s best not to overthink something as unexplained and complicated as the afterlife.’He chuckled.
‘I guess so,’ she said.She looked at him.‘I lived a whole life without you.I had children.With someone else.Now I’m back with you, back in this time, I’ve got a chance to do what I wanted to do with no boundaries but is it real if it isn’t…life?’
‘Does it matter?’Vincent asked, taking Evie’s wringing hands.‘Does it matter if it’s real or not if you’re happy?’
Evie thought for a moment.‘I guess not.It’s just a shame.’She looked at their clasped hands.
‘We know it’s a shame we never got the happy ending we should have had in life but… we’re together now.That’s what matters the most, isn’t it?’Vincent said, stroking the side of her face.
Evie nodded and her face burst into the most glorious smile Vincent had ever seen and she happily snuggled into him once more.
‘So what now?’Evie asked.
Vincent chuckled and said…
‘Welive.’
